Pedophile declared a dangerous offender

KITCHENER — A pedophile who has abused children for more than 20 years was declared a dangerous offender Wednesday.

The finding means Terrance Madden, 57, will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. He received an indeterminate sentence in Kitchener’s Ontario Court.

Justice David Carr said he wasn’t willing to ruin the lives of any more children by declaring Madden a long-term offender. Under that designation, he would receive a regular prison sentence, then be supervised in the community for 10 years.

The judge said children would be in danger if Madden, a registered sex offender, was ever released.

Madden has racked up 24 convictions for sex crimes dating to 1985. He’s a diagnosed pedophile with an attraction to young girls.

His lawyer, Susan von Achten, argued that he could safely be released with close supervision, treatment and drugs to control his sex drive. But Carr didn’t agree. He noted Madden has received intensive treatment over the past 25 years.

“An impressive array of medical personnel tried to help. Nothing has proven to be fully effective for Mr. Madden,’’ he said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Mr. Madden … will remain a significant threat to young girls.

“He’s a pedophile. It’s a life-long condition with no cure.’’

Chemical castration is not effective unless an offender continues to take the drugs, the judge said. And Madden has been known to stop taking drugs that reduce sex drive because he gained weight and said they were too expensive.

Even surgical castration can be reversed by taking testosterone and drugs such as Viagra, according to a doctor who testified at the dangerous offender hearing, Carr said.

A psychiatrist said Madden’s sex drive would likely lessen in his older years, but Carr called that “speculative” and wasn’t willing to count on it.

The judge said Madden blames others, rationalizes his behaviour, shows no empathy for his victims, and manipulates doctors. If released under supervision, he would “pose a significant risk to the young women in our community.’’

Most of Madden’s crimes were committed in the Belleville and Kingston areas. His latest crimes occurred after he met a woman online and came to visit her in Kitchener in 2007. That relationship ended.

He later moved into a local townhouse complex full of kids and molested two young sisters while taking pornographic pictures of them.